藥物「四氣」研究

Study on the Four Qi of Medicinal

藥物「四氣」之名，始載於《神農本草經》。陶弘景云：「藥有……寒、熱、溫、涼四氣。」。其間雖有寇宗奭強調「氣」與「性」互異，但針對疾病所宜則已與藥之「味」並重。自王好古則曰：「凡藥之所著功用，皆參照『氣、味』為主要論述對象」。李杲更進而言：「藥物論述，必兼『氣、味』，加以藥性理論探討，則主治療效，因此而顯」。李時珍曰：「自有《素問》以來，諸書所載，多以『氣、味』言之，卒難改易。故『氣』、『性』或異，但皆指『寒熱溫涼』意涵而以「四氣」概括，亦皆與「味」並稱，其且使「主治」更明。」本研究係以《中藥大辭典》所載藥物含有「四氣」者為主，輸入全書5767種中藥藥物，再針對「四氣」與藥物之「味」、功用、基原兼及成分分類之間關係，進行整理、分析。於此歸納得知，譬如屬於寒（涼）藥之龍膽科Gentiana屬與Swertia屬二者，其功用皆以「清熱、解毒、清濕熱」為主，且與「苦味」關係密切，而其所含現代化學成分分類亦與中醫藥使用內涵契合，則藉由傅統中醫藥「四氣」之記載參入現代基原科屬觀念，當有助於藥物主治及其功用說理更為深入。 The term “four qi” of medicinal was first shown in “Shen-Nong-Ben-Cao-Jing”. The author (Tao Hong-Jing) bring up that medicinal include four qi (cold, hot, warmth, and coolness). Through history, “qi” and “flavors” of medicinal play important roles against diseases. Wang Hao-Gu said: “The use of medicinal recorded in books all referred to qi and flavors.” Li Gao also said: “It must include qi and flavors when discuss about a medicinal. Further discuss the theory about the nature of medicinal. Then the therapeutic effects will be much clear.” Li Shi-Zhen also mentioned: “Most of the books discuss about qi and flavors since “Su-Wen”. Although Kou Zong-Shi emphasized that “qi” is different from “basic properties/5 but both “qi” and “basic properties” include the meaning of cold, hot, warmth, and coolness. So we called the above four qi in conclusion. Four qi and five flavors about a medicinal could make the effect of primary treatment much clear.” This study was to analyze the relationship between four qi, five flavors, use, origins and component classifications in 5,767 kinds of Chinese medicinal recorded in “Zhong-Yao-Da-Ci-Dian”. For example, cold (coolness) medicinal such as plants of Gentianaceae gentiana and Gentianaceae swertia all relates to bitterness and uses as heat-clearing, detoxicating and dampness-heat medicinal. The chemical components classifications match the culture of Chinese medicine. It will be a great effort to explain the use of medicinal when combined with four qi in the Traditional Chinese medicine theory and modem origin concepts.